This fic turned into a much longer one than i ever planned on writing, but it all fell out of my brain really quickly, as in, less than 48 hours. Thanks for reading, i hope you like it. I appreciate all the positive feedback i've had thus far, it's very encouraging. I hope you enjoy the conclusion! please R & R!

Chapter 10

The moonlight is dancing across his room, making shadows and casting light on the clothes strewn about around his bed. She smiles to herself, his bed. She is in his bed. It's 4am, and her entire body is humming and exhausted from the day and then night of sex. She's thankful that sex is apparently much like riding a bicycle- you can just hop right back on. She giggles; apparently multiple orgasms make her a giggler. She didn't know that about herself. Or it has been so long since she's had them that she has forgotten.

She's flat her back, her once braided hair is loose and all over the place, Rick's hand is on her stomach and he is happily resting on his side, right next to her, surely wondering where her giggles are coming from. If the grin on her face is as ridiculous as the one on his, she knows they're both in trouble.

"I wonder what Gates will say when I take two personal days in a row," she muses aloud, still giggling.

"I know what Lanie will say," Castle's tone is light and happy and if she's right, she detects a bit of pride in there too.

She can't suppress the eye roll reaction, "Yes Writer Man, I know what she'll say too." He grins like a little boy at her comment; it makes her smile grow, and she needs to touch him again. She moves her hand through his hair, still damp from the exertion of their day. "Have we really been in bed this long?"

His laugh is noisy in the quiet room, and he seems to be considering her question, "I know we came in here 2ish? But we had dinner right? And then…" he trails off, and she's very pleased to see a blush forming on his cheeks.

"Then I gave you dessert," she says coyly and smiles when his laughter is his reward.

"Best dessert ever, in fact, I'd like to make it a nightly special," he replies, and she feels butterflies in her stomach at the pleased look that comes over his features while he looks at her.

Just thinking about the dessert she served him makes her want to go again, which is astounding considering how little sleep she's had in the past two days, "I'm very glad to know I haven't lost my touch."

They're both quiet for a second, before she remembers the picture he keeps next to his bed of her, and has to ask, "How long have you had that picture of me next to your bed?"

He looks thoroughly surprised by her question, "How did you have time to notice that picture?"

"I may have snuck in here earlier while you were talking to Alexis. Now, no avoiding the question or I'll ask you to describe every activity you've ever done while looking at that picture," she knows he can tell she's teasing, but a dark flash runs through his eyes and she suddenly wants to know more.

"It's been there since the summer, when you were gone. I just wanted you close to me," his response is so genuine, and accompanied with such vulnerability that she feels bad for even asking. She knows how bad the summer must've been for him, she shouldn't bring it up, even accidentally.

That in mind, she turns her entire body towards him and runs a hand up and down his chest, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have teased you. I just assumed it was there as a masturbatory aid," she smiles as she says it, hoping to keep the mood light.

He laughs, "I never said it wasn't," his response is quick and takes her off guard. Soon she's laughing and looking back at the picture of herself, and then her mind goes back to their earlier activities, a shudder of pleasure runs through her at the thought.

"I need some pictures of you to take home with me. For nights when we're apart, because relying on your novels alone was great for helping me through a lean year, but now that I've had you I think I need a visual aid," she can tell she's shocked him and laughs when he kisses her again, rolling her on top of him. When he releases her lips and lets his head fall back on the pillow his eyes are radiating joy.

"Remind me to grab my Polaroid camera from the office tomorrow and we can have a naughty photo shoot before we head into the precinct," she laughs at his words, and nods, that's actually something she would enjoy, and they both fall silent.

She rests her head on his chest, his heartbeat in her ear, taking in the feeling of his naked body beneath her. The adoration he has for her, and the magic of them in bed together is a feeling she knows she'll never tire of.

"I can't wait to tell my mother about this."

For a second she thinks he's kidding, but he sounds really serious. She looks up from his chest and into his face, knowing the question must be obvious, and not expecting to have to voice it. He hasn't explained himself yet, so she asks, "Surely you're not talking about what I think you're talking about are you? You're not actually going to tell your mother we spent 12 hours in bed together are you?"

He laughs and that does nothing to comfort her. He must be able to tell she isn't getting the joke, because he finally says, "No of course not," his grin makes it clear to her that he's thinking about the 12 hours in bed together much more than answering her question.

She flicks his nipple, "Rick!"

He jumps and grabs her offending hand, "Sorry, sorry. Not what I meant. My mother has been bugging me to get laid for months, and now I can tell her I have."

She has at least five questions from that statement, but settles for one, "Why has your mother been bugging you to get laid?"

He smiles softly, "I think she was worried that we'd never get here and that I'd never find this with you. She was worried I was losing my mojo."

Now she understands, his mother was scared he'd be alone, that his feelings for her would never be returned. "Okay," she kisses his chest, "You have my permission to tell your mom that we had sex all day today. You can even tell her I'm taking two personal days in a row so we can sleep and then continue our reintroduction to the world of sex."

He laughs, shaking his head and she knows that's he's taken her words the right way. She wants him to tell his mother that he's happy, and that he's not in any danger of being alone.

His hands are gentle as they graze her spine, and then trace her sides, she's thankful when he spends no extra time on the scar from her surgery. He treats her like she's whole, not as parts that have been stitched back together and it makes her feel cherished.

"I love you Rick," she can't help the smile that forms on her face as she looks down at him, and she's happy to see that her words elicit the same response from him.

Suddenly he rolls them over and she is staring up at his face, her hands on his chest, while his find purchase on her cheek and on her waist "I love you Kate." She can't help but think of that day in the graveyard when their positions were similar, but the emotions were much more confused. As he leans down to kiss her, her heart speeds up, alive, racing and so ready for more.

"Rick its time for some more dessert."